Removing (or not!) the middle seat for cubby box installation

Chaps

Am struggling to remove what I think are the bolts required to pull out the centre front seat on my 90 (k plate).

The base seat lifts straight out of course but I'm struggling with the backrest part of the seat. It seams to be completely attached to the metal frame that is fixed to the "floor" with two bolts at the front and two at the rear. The two at the front are fine and easily removable but the two at the rear are perfectly positioned to be almost impossible to get at as they sit directly under the seat backrest. So I can't put a socket on them. Neither can I get a ratchet spanner as there isn't enough clearance around the bolt to allow me to successfully place the spanner over the bolt.

This leaves a normal spanner but I can't get any leverage on it as access/angle is rubbish.

I notice the bolts go right through the "floor" and the nuts are underneath the bodywork on the outside of the cab and are accessible if I lift the inspection panel from underneath the base seat. Again the access seems pretty dodgy (can't actually see them, just feel them, and haven't got a ramp so can't get underneath) - especially if the nut is solid due to lack of movement for the past 20 years!

Has anyone else removed their middle seat and which approach did you find most successful?

Or am I attempting to remove the wrong bleeding bolts?!?

Cheers.

Helped take Pikeys out and it was a bit of a struggle......open end spanner on top and a ratchet and long bar underneath through the seat box. Much easier with 2.

Just be careful your not undoing the seatbelt anchor as they are close together

Taken mine in and out loads of times. Just stick an open ended spanner on the bolt inside and use a ratchet and socket for the nuts underneath. There is loads of room under there for a ratchet. Hardest part is manouvering the frame out once all the bolts are removed. Takes a bit of wiggling and brute force!!!

I got mine out after the same trouble a few years ago. I worked from under the landy (I have no ramps either) and used a vise grips on the end of the bolt , to stop the whole lot twisting and an open ended spanner on the nut.
It only took 10 minutes then after spending half the day working and failing to remove them from the top.

Adam1979 said:

Taken mine in and out loads of times. Just stick an open ended spanner on the bolt inside and use a ratchet and socket for the nuts underneath. There is loads of room under there for a ratchet. Hardest part is manouvering the frame out once all the bolts are removed. Takes a bit of wiggling and brute force!!!

Click to expand...

:5biagree:

can get mine out in 10 mins-ish, I found it a bit easier on the 110, not having a bulkhead to get the actual seat out to tilt it backwards, then it twists and comes out, not an option on a 90, so a good pull, wiggle and curse should do it!

Thanks everyone. So I'll whip up the inspection panel and give it another go now that I know I'm not missing a trick.

...and, Blue Beasty, I did end up taking the seatbelt harness off at first - which took me about twenty f@?&ing minutes!!